Poppies Intaglio Printmaking

Materials:

1/16" to 1/8" sheet copper
metal cutting machine
varied metal files -- course to smooth
power sander
sandpaper
Pultz polmade polishing agent
Z-acryl stop out resist
airbrush
steel wool
burnishers
scraping tools
liquid polymer for coating [non-toxic method] or asphaltum made of beeswax and asphalt [traditional method]
vertical tank and etchant (sodium chloride is less harsh)
Dutch Mordant [hydrochloric acid] or hot acid [nitric acid] are traditionally used
needle tools
roulettes
permanent black marker
oil-based etching inks
tarlatans (strong cloth for wiping etched plates)
telephone book paper
plastic scrapers
metal putty knives
printing paper*
press
drying rack
dust mask
soda ash
linseed oil
clamps
wheat paste
decorative paper
water in spray bottle
*There are many types of beautiful printing papers available from European cottons to Japanese mulberries at specialty paper stores in larger cities.

1. Cut a piece of copper to a desired size using a metal cutter. Clamp the copper piece to the work surface. Bevel the edges with a metal file (figure A) and sand with a power sander. Burnish and polish the surface to remove unwanted marks (figure B). Wear a dust mask when using the sander.

2. Draw the desired design onto the copper using a permanent black marker.

3. Paint the negative spaces with resist (Z-acryl stop out) (figure C).

4. Airbrush on the same resist over the poppies (figure D).

5. Draw in the remaining design with a needle tool, removing the resist and exposing the copper.

6. Etching:

• Lower the plate into a vertical tank filled with a sodium chloride etchant (figure E).
• After the plate has been "bit" for a desired amount of time by the etchant wash it with water.
• Remove the resist with a solution of soda ash.
• The plate is ready to be inked (figure F).

7. Inking: Choose ink colors and use a palette knife to loosened up the ink and mix each one with a small amount of linseed oil. Wear rubber gloves during this process.

8. Apply the ink to the copper surface with a plastic scraper. Be sure all the lines the etchant cut into the plate are filled (figure G).

9. Remove excess ink from the plate with stiff tarlatan cloth.

10. Rub telephone book paper over the plate to eliminate the remaining ink (figure H).

11. Lay the plate on the press bed. Tear two pieces of decorative paper; spray them with water and sprinkle wheat paste over them. Place the piece paste side up onto the plate (figure I).

12. Place 100-percent rag cotton paper that has been soaked in water face down on the inked copper. The felts of the press are put upon the plate and the piece is cranked through the press (figure J). The felts are removed and the paper is gently peeled from the plate.

Display your poppies intaglio printmaking art piece.

Website: www.newgroundsprintshop.com